A MAGICAL all-singing and all-dancing variety show staged in Brierley Hill has raised around £4,000 for charity.

Black Country impressario Ray Hingley came out of retirement to organise the I Remember Variety night at Brierley Hill Civic Hall on Thursday January 27 to pull in a few extra pounds for the Geoff Hill Charitable Trust.

Midlands comic Lee Wilson, Stourbridge magician John Milner, Stourbridge songstress Maggie O’Hara, dancers from Stourbridge Dance Academy and Dudley singer Kenny Haywood were among the acts taking to the stage on the night, which drew around 360 theatregoers.

Mr Hingley, aged 80, from Amblecote, helped to start up the original Black Country Night Out show in 1971 - and used to run the Robin Hood Citizens Theatre for more than 20 years. He also appeared in TV shows including Boon, Tales of Sherwood, Nice Work and others.

Money raised from his variety night will top up Geoff Hill’s Charitable Trust - which gives out around £25,000 worth of grants to cash-strapped borough groups and charities each year.

Mr Hill, who attended the event, said: “It was a great success. All the artists performed free of charge on the night and money’s still coming in so the final total could be over £4,000.

“I get so many applications for funding each week so this will really help.”